After withdrawing midway through last summer’s CrossFit Games, Moritz Fiebig returned to Germany, unsure if he would ever return to the biggest competition in the sport.
After the death of his friend and fellow competitor, Lazar Đukić, Fiebig was racked with uncertainty about the future — should he even continue pursuing CrossFit? Was it time to quit and refocus his efforts elsewhere?
Unsure of what to do, Fiebig continued to train, hoping to rediscover his passion for the sport. Throughout this process, he realized he had been “overfocused” on CrossFit, so he started seeking more balance in his life.
- “I found some new friends. I hang out a lot more with friends, and people I just like, who aren’t linked to CrossFit,” he said of his life today.
Last fall, Fiebig decided to compete in a couple of local competitions, including the Belgrade Games and the German Throwdown. These experiences helped him realize that skipping this year’s CrossFit Games season might not be the answer he was looking for.
- “I felt that it was right to compete, because the sport [of CrossFit] has nothing to do with the company,” said Fiebig, who also owns and operates CrossFit Sankt Pauli in Hamburg, Germany, a gym boasting over 400 members and 12 coaches.
Furthermore, Fiebig realized he wanted to compete in the Games, feeling healthy for once. In 2022, Fiebig was dealing with a quadratus lumborum (QL) injury in his back during the Games, and in 2023, he suffered from a wrist and ankle injury. And then, of course, there was last year.
A Fitter Fiebig in 2025
Fiebig ultimately decided that he would throw his hat in the ring again this CrossFit Games season and see what happens.
- Fiebig quickly became fitter than he has ever been, which helped him finish second at Wodland Fest in Málaga, Spain – one of 10 In-Person Qualifying Events (IPQE) this season – in April and secure his fourth career ticket to the CrossFit Games.
Following that, Fiebig turned around and won the French Throwdown, another IPQE, in Montpellier, France, in May. Although he already secured his invitation to the Games and didn’t need to enter this contest, the French Throwdown held significant meaning for him.
- “I had such good memories from the French Throwdown. And Luka and Lazar competed there last year and qualified together, so going there again this year was to help my grieving process,” Fiebig explained.
After the French Throwdown, Fiebig took two full weeks off from training and is now gradually ramping up for the CrossFit Games this summer in Albany, NY. His goal is to finish in the top 10.
Unlike many other athletes competing in both the World Fitness Project and the Games season, Fiebig decided not to participate in the WFP. He hopes this choice will keep him healthy and fresh enough to get through the Games season.
- “I didn’t want to travel too much at the beginning of the year. The second reason is that it’s a very, very long season and the [WFP] finals are in December, and in December I need an off-season,” Fiebig said of his decision to forego the WFP season.
It’s paying off so far: Fiebig is completely healthy and has plenty of time to prepare his body for this summer’s Games.
Part of his preparation will involve traveling to the island of Mallorca in Spain to train at The Progrm’s training camp, which Fiebig stated is always a great opportunity to focus entirely on fitness.
- “At home, I’m a businessman,” he said. “I have to clean the toilets, say hi to walk-ins, and coach classes. On the island, I can just focus on being an athlete, and it’s a great opportunity to prepare and get better, which is sometimes harder when I’m in Germany running the gym.”
The Big Picture
Fiebig admits that 2024 was a challenging year, one in which he questioned whether competing in CrossFit was still something he wanted to pursue.
However, after much soul-searching and healing, he is at peace with his decision to dedicate all of his efforts to the CrossFit Games season, and he ultimately hopes to finish in the top 10 in the world.
- “I grieved a lot, I went through some things since the 2024 Games…but I think in five years I would regret it if I didn’t compete,” he concluded.
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Featured image: Lydia Stadtheower
